Canon G7x Mark Ii Water Progf Housing Reviews
We took the Canon G7X Mark II in the Fantasea Line FG7XII underwater housing for some test dives in Gardens of the Queen, Republic of cuba and in Cozumel, to see how it handles itself and check out all the great features of the photographic camera and the housing. This review includes sample photos, tests, wide angle and macro results likewise as some videos.
About the Canon G7X Mark Ii
The Canon G7X Mark II is the mighty successor for the pop G7X (read our review on the G7X). Catechism have improved their leading compact camera in nearly every aspect, giving the current champion – the RX100 Mark V, a adept fight. At but US$679 retail, the Canon G7XII ranks loftier among high finish compacts and offers one of the best value cameras for the avid photographers and specially the underwater lensman.
Some of the camera's highlights include:
- ane.0-inch, twenty.1 MP CMOS sensor with new DIGIC seven Epitome Processor helps deliver outstanding image quality even in low calorie-free.
- Vivid f/1.8-f/2.8 24-100mm lens, fully equipped with an Prototype Stabilizer (IS)
- High-speed continuous shooting up to eight fps in RAW mode, likewise as JPG.
- Crisp 1080p Full HD video in MP4 format.
- Built-in Wi-Fi and NFC adequacy.
- In-camera RAW conversion makes it possible to preview modified weather of images on the camera, without the use of a computer. (That'due south pretty handy!)
- TTL wink exposure fifty-fifty on M (manual) mode!
- Read this splendid summary of all the upgrades on the Mark II compared to the original G7X.
Overall this is a fantastic photographic camera, capable of producing excellent high quality photos and videos.
The FG7XII Housing
Fantasea are already well known in the industry, providing reliable, affordable, high quality housings for the leading compacts in the market. Their team puts their hearts and souls into every housing, put it through rigorous testing and quality control, until it is perfect.
The FG7XII was designed upon the successful FG7X and FG16 housings which preceded it, with the much welcomed add-on of a 67mm thread on the front of the port, expanding your options for wet lenses and allowing both the piece of cake snap-on accessories and the screw-on 67mm accessories.
The Fantasea FG7XII housing highlights include:
- Full access to all essential photographic camera controls & functions with conspicuously marked buttons
- Depth rated to 60 meters / 200 feet (fifty-fifty though they test information technology down to 80m / 270ft)
- Shock resistant construction
- Ergonomic blueprint
- Double O-ring protection for a perfect watertight seal
- Moisture Detector and Alarm, Paw Strap and Port Embrace included at no boosted cost!
- 67mm thread port ring assuasive for wide and macro 67mm wet lenses and filters
When holding the FG7XII in your manus, you immediately feel comfortable with it. The controls are positioned inside achieve, the size is just right, and the housing feels very sturdy. The thumb rest is designed to be exactly where you want it, and the right side of the housing is designed for optimal grip with whatever manus size. Simply like any diver, I dearest mounting points for securing stuff – the housing is equipped with iv d-rings, ane on each corner, assuasive you to secure the flash connector plate, a lanyard, diffuser, wet lenses, filters or anything else you run across fit.
The 2 right d-rings likewise permit yous to mountain the free hand strap, included with the housing, which takes the load off your wrist and secures the camera to your hand while diving.
Three 1/4″-twenty mounting threads are included on the bottom of the housing, allowing y'all to attach it to the tray of your pick. A standard "Cold Shoe" mount sits on the top of the housing, for adding a focus light, GoPro, or any other accessory.
Equally I mentioned above the port of the housing is rectangular, compatible with all of Fantasea'south snap-on accessories, but they've also included a 67mm thread, which allows y'all to mountain any macro lens directly on the port, and even more of import – any broad angle lens! The new Fantasea UWL-09 is the preferred broad angle lens for this housing, creating little to no vignetting, and expanding your field of view significantly, with a gentle fisheye curvature. The Inon UWL-H100 tin can also be used, besides every bit the Nauticam WWL-1 and Ikelite W-thirty.
All the camera's controls are easily accessible. The shutter trigger is a simple button button, similar to that of a camera and positioned in its natural location. I could hands find the half-press for focusing. The rear dial is controlled with a small gear, which can exist reached with the right thumb, just unremarkably easier to manipulate information technology with both fingers. Information technology may be a bit harder to maneuver for those using thick gloves, but definitely possible.
The band dial is controlled by a large gear on the left side of the housing. Fantasea were wise enough to include a control to pop up the internal wink, since many of united states of america tend to forget to pop it upwardly before the dive and start cursing underwater… Luckily with this housing, information technology won't happen! There is no control to close down the flash, which you may be familiar with from previous housings, but you tin hands plow information technology off with the flash push on the camera.
On all contempo Canon compacts, starting from the Catechism G7X , y'all can get TTL flash exposure even on manual (Grand) mode, which is very important for UW photographers! This way you tin shoot with your favorite settings on M, concealment your background with faster shutter speed, while nonetheless maintaining automated and precise flash exposure with TTL uniform strobes, via cobweb optic cables.
If you're not yet gear up for an external strobe, Fantasea offers a big diffuser, included every bit a standard accessory, to utilize the built in flash in a better manner, moving the light source forward to skip over the large port and provide good lighting for shut up to medium range subjects.
I really like Fantasea's locking mechanism, which is completely idiot-proof, snaps in identify with a loud click, assuring you that your photographic camera is safe and sealed.
A very useful anti-glare LCD hood is besides included with the housing, providing shade on the back of your housing and helping you get a better visual on the screen in bright daylight dives.
A leak detector is built into the housing, which is highly sensitive and produces a sharp beeping sound, as well equally flashing red LED, at the slightest detection of moisture inside the housing. The detection strip is positioned on the very bottom of the housing, which is probable where water will hit outset, in the unlikely outcome of a flood.
No prior setting up is required. Simply slide the camera inside the housing, close the lock, and spring in the water!
Using the Camera and Housing Underwater
I took the G7X II for a spin in Gardens of the Queen, Cuba, likewise every bit several dives in Cozumel, Mexico.
The camera performed beautifully. Focusing was very fast, image quality was superb and the camera is very user friendly, just like near Canon compacts.
The built in popular-upwards flash is a bit slow to recycle, and so I would suggest giving up on TTL, setting the pop-up flash on manual with the lowest possible setting, and then using the external flash on Manual as well. This would exist the all-time style shoot continuously with a wink.
The controls on the housing were very intuitive, and clearly marked so y'all don't take to remember anything earlier paw. All buttons and dials worked flawlessly at whatever depth I tried information technology. I also handed it around to a few divers on our group, who used an underwater photographic camera for the start time in their life, and they found information technology to be super intuitive! It merely required 5 minutes of basic explanations and they were ready to shoot.
The battery life on the Canon G7XII is quite pleasing, lasting 2 dives easily. I exercise recommend getting a spare battery anyway so you accept it ready for the tertiary and 4th dive of the 24-hour interval.
The camera + housing by themselves are slightly positive, so brand sure you secure it with the lanyard so it won't pop upwardly to the surface. In one case you add a tray, artillery, lighting and moisture lenses, the rig becomes negative. Depending on your setup, y'all may want to add float units to make information technology neutral once again.
Wet Lenses
The new Fantasea UWL-09 lens does an astonishing chore, expanding your field of view significantly, with very minimal vignetting thanks to the 67mm thread on the housing.
I recommend closing downwardly the aperture to about f/9 to improve corner sharpness significantly when using a wide angle / fisheye wet lens.
I used the Inon UCL-165for subtle macro shots, with larger subjects. If you desire those nice super-macro shots, you lot can either mount a 2nd Fantasea SharpEye or UCL-165, or use a single Subsee +10 or Nauticam CMC-i. I found information technology quite like shooting fish in a barrel to focus on macro subjects, either with a macro lens or without. The G7X II's AF is very accurate and very quick!
Fantasea have just recently released 3 great new macro lenses – UCL-05LF (+6), UCL-06LF (+12) and UCL-09F (+12.5 Super Macro). These lenses work very well with the Canon G7X II and are highly recommended with the Fantasea housing.
Recommended settings
I of the major advantages on compacts, vs DSLR's and some mirrorless cameras, is the electronic shutter, which nigh eliminates the problem of Maximum Flash Sync Speed and allows yous to use shutter speeds of 1/thousand or even ane/2000 with wink!
This effectively reduces your ambient light, allowing you to control it and make sure you get a overnice dark groundwork even in bright daylight.
When I'k using external strobes, I similar shooting on Thousand (manual), setting my shutter speed to most 1/1000 (on daylight dives), aperture to nearly f/5.vi, or f/9 if I'chiliad using wet lenses, ISO to about 200 and WB to Car.
I shoot RAW, so information technology'southward easy to change the WB in post processing, every bit well as adjust the exposure if needed.
The fast shutter speed takes care of the groundwork while the strobes light upward your subject.
As I stated above, I switch my pop-upward flash to manual, on the lowest setting, to ameliorate recycle speed and conserve battery.
Make sure you turn off your Red Middle role, besides as the AF assistance beam which aren't needed underwater and tin can get in the way.
You can observe the AF method that works for y'all all-time – I unremarkably prepare it to 1-bespeak, I-Shot, but some people prefer the fully automated AiAF focus, or the Servo mode to continuously focus on your subject while it'due south moving. Endeavor it and run across what you lot prefer.
Read my total guide on Recommended Settings for Underwater Compact Cameras.
Bottom Line
The Canon G7X Mark Two with the Fantasea housing is an incredible imaging machine. 1 simple enough to start with, for the beginner underwater photographer, but likewise easily expandable, with strobes, video lights, wet lenses and filters, to create a compact monster, capable of honor winning photos yet travel friendly and piece of cake to handle.
Fantasea accept done an infrequent job on this one, creating the best value housing for a super pop camera, which volition surely be amid the top cameras for UW photographers for 2017.
Buy the G7X Mark Two parcel here
Already have the camera? Become the FG7XII housing here!
For custom packages with optics and lighting, browse here.
Fantasea FG7X II Underwater Housing AND Canon G7X Ii Camera
Rated ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/five based on 1 review
Best value for coin ,Overall this is a fantastic photographic camera, capable of producing excellent high quality photos and videos. – past Ran
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Ran is a professional photographer for over 14 years. His passion for scuba diving and photography has pushed him to combine his profession and hobby and get a professional underwater lensman. Didactics is one of his greatest passions and over the years he has shared his feel with many divers and aspiring photographers. Along with his wife Danielle, an experienced Scuba Teacher, they have founded Dive and More, leading swoop trips and UW photo workshops all over the world. Ran is also an electrical engineer and an avid internet marketing specialist.
Visit his personal portfolio at www.ranmorphoto.com.
Source: https://www.housingcamera.com/blog/product-reviews/fantasea-canon-g7xii-underwater-housing-review
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